Paige Bueckers is taking her game to a new stage — the big screen. The Dallas Wings guard and 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year will star in and executive produce Jess & Pearl, an Apple Original Films production centered on friendship, fame, and the business of women’s basketball.

The film, first reported by Deadline, marks Bueckers’ debut as both an actor and producer. The project was written by Zahir McGhee, best known for his work on Scandal, and follows two women’s basketball teammates whose bond is tested as success and celebrity begin to collide with the realities of college sports.

The timing of the move comes as the WNBA and its players’ association continue collective bargaining talks that could extend into 2026. With a potential lockout looming, Bueckers appears to be broadening her professional horizons while maintaining close ties to the sport that made her a household name.

Before making her leap to film, Bueckers completed one of the most decorated collegiate careers in NCAA history. At UConn, she was a four-time NCAA All-Tournament selection, three-time Big East Player of the Year, and the 2021 AP Player of the Year. She capped her college career by leading the Huskies to the 2025 National Championship.

Bueckers transitioned seamlessly to the WNBA after being selected No. 1 overall by Dallas. Despite the Wings’ 10-34 finish, she emerged as one of the league’s most dynamic guards, averaging 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 36 games while shooting 47.7% from the field and 88.8% from the free-throw line. Her 35 double-digit scoring performances tied for the second-most ever by a rookie, and she ranked fifth in scoring, sixth in steals, and ninth in assists leaguewide.

The Minnesota native’s star power extended beyond the box score. Her combination of poise, scoring instinct, and playmaking flair made her an immediate fan favorite — and a natural fit for a story that mirrors her own rise in women’s basketball.

Though few details about Jess & Pearl have been released, Bueckers’ involvement as both lead actor and executive producer signals a growing trend of athletes taking creative control of their own narratives.

Bueckers, 24, becomes one of the youngest WNBA players to hold a producer credit on a major studio project. The film will blend her real-life understanding of the sport with a fictional story about ambition, loyalty, and identity in the modern era of women’s athletics — themes that have defined her journey from UConn phenom to professional star.

As she prepares for her sophomore WNBA season and a potential offseason spent on set, Bueckers’ influence continues to stretch beyond the court. Whether through her game or her storytelling, her next move proves she’s determined to shape the future of women’s basketball — and now, how it’s seen on screen.